Yes, cramps can turn us into Ninjas. Specially the cramps that occur in the calf muscles. Strangely these usually happen in sleep, during the early morning hours [that’s why they are called ‘night cramps’]. Sometimes they can also affect the feet.

I’ve had these cramps a few times and from my experience, when the cramp is happening, there’s not much you can do except try your best to not scream and wake the entire household or neighbourhood. For some people, stretching the muscle during the cramp gives relief, but I do not attempt anything so heroic. For me, the cramps have usually lasted for a few seconds [seem so much longer], so I just wait for them to pass and then I go back to sleep. Since night cramps are caused by some mineral deficiencies, the morning after a cramp usually has me evaluating my diet to identify what I’ve been missing [or should be avoiding].

We can’t say with certainty that we know what causes cramps… but these could be the possible reasons:

Magnesium, Calcium, Potassium or Sodium deficiency

Dehydration

Exercising [and not stretching your muscles enough]

Keeping feet in an awkward position for long

Diabetes, Alcoholism, Pregnancy, Hypothyroidism

Sudden change in temperature

What to do to prevent them

Hydrate: be sure to drink at least 2 litres of water per day

Nutrition: Include enough fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet and also include enough sources of potassium, calcium and magnesium

Potassium: Bananas, spinach, mushrooms

Calcium: Nuts, broccoli, sesame, almonds, spinach

Magnesium:Nuts, seeds, green leafy vegetables, avaocados.

Make sure to stretch your muscles well after a work-out and also stretch your feet before going to bed

Do not tuck your feet under a heavy blanket or tight sheets. Keeping your feet in the same position for long can cause muscle cramps

Take a vitamin E and magnesium supplement [also does wonders for your skin]

Massaging the calves and feet with magnesium enriched oil before sleeping also helps

Apple cider vinegar is also known to help prevent muscle cramps. Have two spoons a day or add it to your salad dressing

Get enough sunlight so that you are not low on vitamin D. Aim for sun exposure for 10 – 15 minutes 3 times a week, before 10am.

These are some of the things that help to reduce the frequency and intensity of cramps. Have you tried anything else that has worked for you?

I recently did a one-day juice cleanse by the Raw Pressery and also wrote about it here. I received some queries by readers whether a juice cleanse is a viable solution to weight loss, increased cholesterol, or uncontrolled diabetes. Unfortunately, it is not.This is what a juice cleanse can do for you
• Give your system a break from junk food, processed foods, overcooked food
• Give you a good dose of vitamins and minerals [good for skin, hair, immunity] for a day
• Introduce you to a healthy/clean way of eating
• Help you tune in to hunger/appetite signals of your body
Juice cleanses can make you feel great for a day [ or even 1-2 days after] but don’t expect miracles. Besides, any ‘lifestyle’ disease like obesity or diabetes will require a ‘lifestyle’ makeover.
Doing a juice cleanse or any detox diet is a good way to jump start your healthy eating habits. But you can’t do it to compensate for all the other days that you eat unhealthy. What’s a better alternatives to detox/ cleansing diets?
Yes, instead of having 7 -8 glasses of juice on one day, like you would in a cleanse, have one glass of juice daily. So you can juice 2-3 of the following in any combination you like: spinach/kale/cucumber/bottle gourd/mint/ tomatoes/beet. Add some rock salt/ chaat masala/ lemon juice to improve the taste. Have it freshly prepared. It’s best to have this in the morning or when your stomach is relatively empty eg: evening instead of tea.

What to do if you have no time to make juice?

Very simple–Have salad with both your meals or as a snack

You can combine fruits and vegetables to make a salad. For eg: grapes, apples, oranges, pomegranate, watermelon can be added to your regular vegetable salad.